Veteran teams return to the trail for Wildcat Cross Country

Wednesday

Aug 29, 2012 at 4:34 PMAug 29, 2012 at 4:37 PM

Josh Prim

The 2012 Wildcats Cross Country teams come into the season with valuable experience at the varsity level. “Last season was a learning experience for many of our girls, we were young and inexperienced. I expect that our girls’ squad will show improvement this season. We have 4 boys returning with varsity experience, I think we’ll have a couple of the other boys step up and help our varsity squad out this year. If they do, we have a good chance of improving our boys’ team results this year,” said El Dorado head coach Davie Herrs.The EHS girls’ squad will consist of six runners. Five though are experienced varsity runners; they are joined by one freshman. Returning for the Wildcats are senior Andi Copeland (2-year letter winner); juniors Faith Hadley (2-year letter winner, 2010 1st-team all-league), Tori Gricol (2-year letter winner), and Kailey Clites (1-year letter winner); and sophomore Katy Swan (1-year letter winner). New to the team this season is freshman Morgan Greene. Looking to lead the Lady Wildcats is junior Faith Hadley who was a 1st team all-league selection in 2011.Both Hadley and Clites have state meet experience, running at the meet in the 2010 season.For the Wildcat boys, nine runnners return in 2012. Two runners are seniors, Sam Haines (3-year letter winner, 2nd-team all-league 2010 and 2011) and Donavan Whitfield (2-year letter winner). Also returning this season are juniors John Scott (2-year letter winner, 2011 2nd-team all-league) and Tanner Clites and sophomore Breck Towner (1-year letter winner).New to the squad this year are junior Jacob Anders (transfer) and freshmen Bill Crowley, Jacob Harding and Trey Duran.Haines and Scott look to to head the Wildcats this season as Haines comes in with consecutive 2nd-team all-league selections and Scott with his first in 2011.One major concern for the the teams is their depth in 2012.“Both squads will lack depth, we only have 6 girls and 9 boys,” said Herrs.The 2012 season looks promising for the Wildcats as their training has encouraged Herrs.“I’m encouraged by the way both of our squads have practiced so far this off-season,” Herrs said. “I think it will pay off and show in our ability to compete at meets. I hope that at the end of the season we can say we showed quite a bit of improvement this season.”The Wildcats season begins this Saturday at Raft Ranch in Augusta.